10 ways you're ruining your eyes

Sure, mom used to scold you about sitting too close to the TV, but that's not the only thing that could be hurting your eyes.

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1. Not wearing sunglasses

Remember when Anderson Cooper wore that eye patch? He sunburned his eyes while jet skiing in Portugal on a “60 Minutes” assignment, and while he didn't technically lose his sight, he wore it to protect his eye while it healed. If you don’t want that to happen to you, always wear a broad-brimmed hat and shades, making sure they protect against ultraviolet rays (look for a special sticker that says, “100 percent UV blocking”). Exposure to UV rays damages the retina and increases your risk of cloudiness on your eye, also known as cataracts. It also makes you more likely to get skin cancer on your eyelids, says Vinay Aakalu, M.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology and ocular facial plastic surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Overexposure to the sun’s rays can also lead to ultraviolet keratitis — sunburn on the epithelium of the cornea (the clear outer part of the eye) — which you can get when skiing or even in a tanning booth, if you skip the protective goggles. Like sunburn, it can sneak up on you: Pain, blurry vision, and tearing can start hours later.

Remember when Anderson Cooper wore that eye patch? He sunburned his eyes while jet skiing in Portugal on a “60 Minutes” assignment, and while he didn't technically lose his sight, he wore it to protect his eye while it healed. If you don’t want that to happen to you, always wear a broad-brimmed hat and shades, making sure they protect against ultraviolet rays (look for a special sticker that says, “100 percent UV blocking”). Exposure to UV rays damages the retina and increases your risk of cloudiness on your eye, also known as cataracts. It also makes you more likely to get skin cancer on your eyelids, says Vinay Aakalu, M.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology and ocular facial plastic surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Overexposure to the sun’s rays can also lead to ultraviolet keratitis — sunburn on the epithelium of the cornea (the clear outer part of the eye) — which you can get when skiing or even in a tanning booth, if you skip the protective goggles. Like sunburn, it can sneak up on you: Pain, blurry vision, and tearing can start hours later.